Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church
West Lafayette, Ohio
March 29, 1987
Inspiration of the Bible
2 Timothy 3:14-16, KJV
Down through the ages many people have claimed to speak for God and most of them have been nuts. The Greeks had a temple at Delphi where people could hear the word of God. Actually, they heard priestesses who became possessed by God and spoke his word in low voices. And usually what was spoken could be taken two ways, so you couldn't blame them for what happened. [Archaeologists have discovered that the temple was constructed over a fault in the earth which emits noxious gases and these gases could induce hallucinations - National Geographic, August 2001. (1)]
In modern times you just have to go to California. You'll find gurus and psychics and anything you want. But will you find a real word from God? This is an important concept because genuine revelation is doubted today. The skepticism of our age adheres to "what you see is all you get."
Every religion has its own form of the word of God. But few people have put as much emphasis on it as the Jews. Even in the ancient world they were famous for it. As soon as a Jewish child could speak, they were taught to memorize Scripture. The advice in Psalm 119 was important to them: "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
Timothy grew up in this kind of home. As verse 15 says, ever since he was a little boy he was taught the Bible. The Bible was important to Jews because it was the only thing that held them together. Their temple could be burned, and their nation could be invaded. Only God's Word had withstood these disasters. Most Jews no longer read the Bible, but a few pour their lives into it. I've seen it myself.
While I was in seminary I took part-time jobs during the summer. One of them was with a moving van company in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It was an experience I'll never forget. The other workers were all 6'6", 300 lb. alcoholics but they could really move furniture. One house had 30 steps in front of it. Our foreman chose me to help him take out a very large, very heavy sofa. Who was I to refuse? Straining both biceps, I picked up my end. It was awful. My legs were quaking by the time I hit the top step. Since he liked to fly down steps, I was pedaling backwards while he pushed forwards.
About halfway down I collapsed on my tush, holding this sofa in my lap. The foreman was still coming full speed and so as not to kill me, he swung the sofa around sideways. With three fantastic leaps, he hit the sidewalk and fell flat on his face. I spent the rest of the day packing dishes.
And that's when I noticed him. He was sitting on a packing crate, rocking back and forth. He had a broad rimmed black hat and a long black coat. His sideburns were so long they curled like Shirley Temple's. In his hands he held a large black Bible, and as he read it he rocked back and forth and chanted. (The man turned out to be a Hasidic Jew who was moving to Israel)
Why would anyone want to read the Bible? To some people it's just a dusty old history book (borrrrrring) Or a collection of fables. The Bible itself claims to be more than this. It does contain history, and stories, but most of all it is a record of how God has dealt with people. It shows what he expects of us and what he can do for us. As Paul says, it can make us wise unto salvation. Salvation is not automatic. Certain things must be understood, and certain things must be done in order to be saved. In verse 15 Paul tells us what to do - we must have faith. This involves accepting the truths of the Bible, and also committing ourselves to it. Then he tells us who this faith must be put in - Christ Jesus, and him alone. (John 14:6)
Only the Bible can tell us about Jesus (Catholics, others agree). Therefore what we believe about the Bible is very important. In verse 16 Paul says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable." Giving by inspiration - a very literal translation would be "God-breathed." Throughout the Old Testament there is the conviction that the words of Scripture came from God himself. Sometimes it is very direct. Turn in your Bible to Exodus 31:18. God has just told Moses about the Ten Commandments and other laws up on Mt. Sinai. Verse 18 states: "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon Mt. Sinai, two tables of stone, written with the finger of God."
At other times the inspiration came from visions or dreams. For many of the prophets, the understanding that God had called them for special service put God's approval on the words they spoke. Continually in the Old Testament it states: "this is what the Lord God says." Inspiration does not have to mean God dictated every word and His prophets copied syllable by syllable. It means he directed their thoughts to reveal the divine purpose. The personality of the prophet can still shine through. (Paul's writings sound different from Revelation, or Psalms.) But it is not something they thought up on their own. God is behind all of it. One of the clearest passages on this is found in 2 Peter 1:20-21: "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (NIV).
The inspiration of the Bible marks the dividing line between Biblical Christianity and Liberalism. A pure liberal does not believe God gave us the Bible. They think it is merely man's best thoughts about God. However, they still use the term "inspiration." To them, it means a person is extra sensitive or religious. The prophet has deep insight, but no supernatural message from God.
Liberals also try to limit inspiration in other ways. Back in 2 Timothy 3, it is possible to translate verse 16 as: "Every Scripture that is inspired is also profitable." In other words, some Scripture might be inspired, some is not. Scholars are sure that Paul would not mean it this way - his opponents picked out verses here and there, but he did not. Nevertheless, a lot of people take this approach to the Bible. They accept the religious stuff - that's inspired. But the history or the science reflects the ignorance of their period.
As far as I am concerned, if the history of the Bible is wrong, the religious sections could be in error as well. The Bible makes no distinction. The history, science and religion are all lumped together. If the Bible is really inspired, everything in it is true.
How can we really know the Bible is inspired? Other religions make the same claim. Inspiration cannot be proven beyond all doubt until God makes an appearance. It can't be proven, but it can be supported. Where the Bible can be tested, it has stood up. Eighty years ago scholars felt Luke made a lot of historical errors in Acts. Luke put cities in the wrong provinces. He gave the wrong titles to rulers. One of those scholars did a closer study. After years of research, he found out that Luke was right after all. In every detail. Up to ten years ago, liberals were convinced Sodom and Gomorrah were mythical. Then tablets were dug up in Syria that mention the two cities as powerful neighbors.
Where the Bible can be tested, it can be verified. What cannot be tested must be accepted on faith. If this bothers you, you should realize that evolution and atheism must also be accepted on faith. Millions have accepted the divine inspiration of the Bible and their lives have been changed as a result. The change doesn't come from belief in the Bible. It comes from belief in the one the Bible points to: Jesus Christ.
Do you believe the Bible? Really believe it and recognize it as God's voice? The ultimate proof of your belief is that you'll read it regularly and not just five minutes on Sunday when the sermon is dragging a little. To read it with an open heart is to be changed by it. Teach it to your children and recommend to your neighbors. God's book is for today, and it is for you.
[Invitation]
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1. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/08/0814_delphioracle.html
Typed on January 17, 2005, by Betty Fowler of Ledgewood Baptist Church, New Jersey
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